The Garen system, a star system that held the planet known as Garen IV, existed within the Thuldin's Grant sector of the Expansion Region. While the Galactic Empire was in power, Garen IV was the location of an Imperial penal colony; however, in 2 BBY, during the time of the Galactic Civil War, some prisoners managed to flee the colony when the Alliance to Restore the Republic executed a raid.
The sourcebook The Essential Atlas, penned by Jason Fry and Daniel Wallace and published in 2009, included the initial reference to the Garen system. It also appeared in the Star Wars: The Essential Atlas Online Companion, a supplementary piece for the book that was made available on StarWars.com.